Chelle Lauds Super Eagles’ Fighting Spirit After Dramatic 4–1 Win Over Gabon
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle could not conceal his delight after Nigeria’s dramatic 4–1 extra-time victory over Gabon in the semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs on Thursday.
Nigeria looked destined for a tense finish after Sevilla forward Akor Adams broke the deadlock with just 12 minutes left in regulation time. But the Panthers clawed their way back, with Mario Lemina firing home an 88th-minute equaliser that stunned the Rabat crowd.
Extra time, however, belonged wholly to the Super Eagles.
Substitute Chidera Ejuke restored Nigeria’s lead in the 97th minute, before Victor Osimhen delivered a ruthless brace to kill off Gabon’s resistance and send the Super Eagles into Sunday’s final against DR Congo.
Speaking after the match, Chelle praised his players for showing resilience, unity, and emotional maturity under pressure.
“I am very proud of these guys because every time they are focused on what I asked,” Chelle said.
“The word today was passion. During my speech it was about passion and working together to have the same thing.”
The Malian tactician, who remains unbeaten since taking charge in January, now stands just one win away from securing Nigeria’s return to football’s biggest stage.
Opinion: Chelle Is Awakening a New Spirit in the Super Eagles — And It’s Becoming Hard to Ignore
There is something different — almost refreshing — about the Super Eagles under Eric Chelle.
For the first time in a long while, the team looks emotionally connected. They work for each other. They fight for each other. And perhaps most importantly, they play with a sense of purpose that has been missing since Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Thursday’s win was not perfect; in fact, it was chaotic at times. But it showcased something more valuable than tactics — character.
When Gabon equalised late in the game, many Nigerian fans braced for heartbreak. Yet the players rose to the moment, not collapsed under it. Ejuke came on hungry. Osimhen reminded Africa why he is still one of the deadliest strikers on the planet. And Chelle — animated, passionate, fully invested — insisted on belief.
This is what Nigeria has been missing:
a team that refuses to fold.
If the Eagles take this energy into the final against DR Congo, then the dream of returning to the World Cup won’t just be possible — it will feel inevitable.
